THE 200th anniversary of a Cleveland lifeboat is celebrated at a church service on Sunday.

Past and present members and helpers of Redcar lifeboat station and the Zetland Museum will be at St Peter's Church in the town for a thanksgiving service at 2.30.

Civic leaders, Marske Fishermen's Choir and leading figures of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution will also be there.

The service will recall how the people of Redcar subscribed to buy a lifeboat from Henry Greathead, of South Shields, 200 years ago.

The Zetland lifeboat, the first in the world, subsequently served for 78 years and is credited with saving 500 lives. The boat survives today and is housed in a boathouse on Redcar seafront.

Bilsdale man Roy Barker is chairman of the Zetland 200 committee. He told the D&S Times: "The Zetland has a grant history and, remarkably, was saving lives 25 years before the formation of the RNLI."

He said the anniversary was also marked with the commissioning of a painting by Whitby artist John Freeman. The painting depicts people launching the lifeboat at Redcar in the early nineteenth century. A limited edition of 500 prints - one for each saved life - has been produced and signed by the artist. The prints cost £25 and are available from Redcar lifeboat station.

During Sunday's service, the RNLI standard will be carried by Derek Robinson, a crew member and standard bearer at the Redcar station. The Zetland standard will be carried by Ronald Sabiston, chairman of the lifeboat museum committee. The Zetland drum will be carried by Eddie Ransom, museum curator.

Marske Fishermen's Choir sings Come Along Brave Boys before members Eric and Bill Porritt recite a tale about a skipper's frustrations with bureaucracy while trying to earn a living from the sea. Music for the arrangement is by former choir member, Eric Foster.

The Rev John Weetman, vicar of St Peter's, is giving the welcome and introduction.

The Zetland poem will be read by Mr Barker and senior helmsman Michael Picknett will read The Redcar Lifeboat.

Richard Mann, RNLI national fundraising manager, will say the lifeboat prayer, and chief executive Andrew Freemantle will give a reading.

Mr Barker said the event would be poignant and memorable, and foster great pride among many people. More details are available on 01642 778349